Tackling By The Dreads

Submitted by jokenjin on

I hope this doesn't happen but I could totally see a moment where ND is frustrated and tackles Dilithium by the dreads. I know in the NFL this is legal (it happened to Polamalu and Ricky Williams when he still had the dreadlocks). Does anyone know if it different in college football?

JeepinBen

September 9th, 2010 at 3:26 PM ^

So you can tackle by it, but you can also get penalties. (Happend when a guy tackled Polamalu but then wrenched his head by the dreads on the ground. Clean tackle, then a 15 yard personal foul)

But, you can't tackle what you can't catch!

ThWard

September 9th, 2010 at 3:27 PM ^

If your only chance to tackle a guy with 4.3 speed and agility is to grab at his dreads, shoulder high, then you actually have no chance to tackle him.

those.who.stay.

September 9th, 2010 at 5:18 PM ^

get a 1-on-1 with a safety, who he will juke out of his jock, the safety will make a great play just to attempt a shoestring tackle on Denard. The force will not be enough to stop Denard, but it will rip off his untied shoe. He will proceed to run the rest of the way to the endzone wearing 1 shoe.

This is definitely happening.

jtmc33

September 9th, 2010 at 3:29 PM ^

I don't remember the game (I'm thinking it may have been an LSU slot-ninja type RB/WR), but a couple years ago a dreaded speedster got loose down the sideline and was caught by a DB who had the perfect angle and instead of diving for the legs he reached out one-handed and pulled him on his tailbone by his dreads.  Full speed forward to flailing back by the hair.  The defender came up with a couple strands in his hand

No penanlty and the announcers showed it 2-3 times and talked about how it was legal. 

plaidflannel

September 9th, 2010 at 3:32 PM ^

I don't really understand why the NFL allows the grabbing of hair to tackle.  They don't allow facemasks or horse-collars because of the potential for injury (specifically to the head and neck).  Grabbing someone's hair and jerking them down, causing intense neck pain, seems nearly equivalent to grabbing and turning someone's facemask.  If the NFL takes the position of "cut your hair and you won't have that problem," then it seems awfully discriminatory towards cultures in which long hair is more common.

Not an answer to your question, but something that has always troubled me.

Blue since birth

September 9th, 2010 at 4:34 PM ^

I've seen it on several occasions.

...I've also lost quite a few points pointing out that long hair isn't a great idea in activites where large men are trying to grapple with you (probably will here as well) .

But I guess "cool" trumps all.

TheOracle6

September 9th, 2010 at 5:07 PM ^

It should be a 15 yard penalty, but I'm not exactly sure.  It doesn't happen often and with the speed of Denard it's likely to not happen at all.  Denard was actually asked this question and he said "They'd have to catch me first."